Lockport Heavyweight Joe Taylor Wins His Professional MMA Debut
The Associated Press
NIAGARA FALLS — Lockport’s “Son of a Legend” Joe Taylor earned a unanimous-decision victory last weekend over Savalas Williams of Florida in his first professional mixed martial arts fight at the Seneca Niagara Casino.
The popular Lockport native made his first MMA debut a successful one in the co-main event of an event promoted by King of the Cage.
Taylor took his time in the opening round, measuring and figuring out Williams’ timing. But that’s all he needed to get started. The second round had Taylor opening up and moving forward on Williams, landing crisp strikes.
Williams attempted taking the Lockport superstar to the ground on several occasions, but Taylor found a way to get out of each attempt.
“His athletic ability is just spectacular to watch. Joe would get out of positions on the ground that simply amazed me. It was almost as if he was making up his own rules,” said Taylor’s head trainer, Lockport native Corey Webster of Buffalo’s “Western New York MMA.”
The third and final round was a bloody one with Taylor unleashing heavy blows on Williams. The official scores were 29-28, 29-27, 30-27 all in Taylor’s favor as he improves his MMA record to 1-0.
Also preparing Taylor for his debut was former Lockport boxer and National boxing champion Troy Morris, the newest addition to Team Taylor.
“I’m so proud of what Joe consistently proves and stands for,” said Taylor’s promoter, WKA world cruiserweight champion Amer Abdallah, also a Lockport native now living and training in Las Vegas.
“Just like in his fight, it doesn’t matter what tries to bring him down, he always finds a way to get back up and come out on top. Joe is a superstar,” Abdallah said.
Taylor’s next fight will be announced in the next two weeks, his promotors said. Lace Up Promotions is attempting to secure the bid for a Nov. 12 event in Lockport for Abdallah and this city’s first world title defense, which will feature Taylor in the co-main event.
“Fighting at the Seneca Niagara Casino, fighting for King of the Cage, and being on the best team are all dreams come true for me,” Taylor said.
“I thank God first and always for making me the smarter man that I am today. I have to thank my community, my team at WNY MMA, coach Corey Webster, Troy Morris and my friend and promoter Amer Abdallah for his guidance.”
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Photo by Jay Stoos
